SXSW Sydney 2025 Announces First Music Conference Speakers

Jen Malone (Music supervisor behind Euphoria, Overcompensating, Mr & Mrs Smith & more), Dr. Marcus Collins (best-selling author of For The Culture) headline this year’s speaker lineup.

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South by Southwest Sydney has unveiled its first list of speakers to take the stage at this year’s conference.

The lineup includes some of the biggest and most successful names in the music biz, with one of Hollywood’s most in-demand music supervisors, Emmy-winning Jen Malone (Euphoria, Wednesday, Mr & Mrs Smith, Atlanta, Overcompensating) taking centre stage alongside award-winning marketing professor, cultural translator and #1 best-selling author Dr. Marcus Collins.

Also part of this year’s speakers’ bill are Senior Director of A&R at All Flowers International Label Group, Alex Berenson (US); founder of Hong Kong’s Clockenflap Festival, Justin Sweeting (Hong Kong), VP of Music Festival for SXSW in Austin, Brian Hobbs (US); Apodaca Group and Pal Norte Festival’s Macarena González (Mexico), and co-founder of Rareform marketing team (TOKiMONSTA, Royel Otis, Tash Sultana, Obongjayar), Hallie Anderson (US).

The Aussie contingent includes Daphne Berry, host of the podcast Airing Your Dirty Laundry; John Watson, President of Eleven Music and John Watson Management (Missy Higgins, Midnight Oil, Gotye); and music industry consultant Jono Harrison. Check out the full list of speakers announced below.

Claire Collins, SXSW Sydney’s Head of Music, says, “SXSW Sydney is about big ideas, bold conversations and unexpected connections. It’s a chance to hear directly from the people who open doors — the buyers, curators and deal-makers — and to better understand how to cut through, stay independent, or scale globally. Whether you’re building a team, exploring how AI can support your creative and business goals, or just looking for inspiration from other creative industries, this is where the conversations start.

“We’re proud to bring this talent to Sydney and to connect them with the broader SXSW Sydney community. It’s a week packed with fun, discovery, and opportunities to connect, collaborate, and imagine what’s next for music in our region and around the world.

“Today’s announcement follows last month’s first artist announcement, with further Music Conference speakers, parties, panels, workshops and more still to be revealed, alongside details of 300+ buzzy international and domestic artist performances.”

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The speaker lineup comes a few weeks after the first round of bands performing at this year’s SXSW Sydney were revealed.

Manchester indie rockers Jasmine 4.t, Irish rock act Cardinals and eclectic UK artist Freak Slug will join the likes of Aussie rapper and songwriter Jamaica Moana, lo-fi artist RICEWINE and Adelaide’s own indie rock heroes Swapmeet.

SXSW Sydney 2025 will comprise over 1,600 sessions and events across seven days, with over 400 conferences, more than 150 professional development sessions, 300 plus music performances, close to 100 film screenings, over 150 gaming-related experiences and more than 400 brand-led events.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “Hot on the heels of an incredible second year, SXSW Sydney 2025 is gearing up to once again present an exciting series of music experiences. The NSW Government is proud to partner on SXSW Sydney, an event that showcases our city as a premier destination and a global hub for culture and innovation.”

SXSW Sydney 2024 runs from Monday, October 13 to Sunday, October 19. Tickets are on sale now via sxswsydney.com.

Music Speaker Line-up (announced thus far)

Jen Malone (Music Supervisor, Black & White Music), USA

Dr Marcus Collins (Culture Academic and #1 Selling Author), USA

Alex Berenson (Senior Director of A&R, All Flowers), USA

Andrew Batey (Founder & Co-CEO, Beatdapp), USA

Brian Hobbs (VP of Music Festival, SXSW), USA

Daphne Berry (Podcast Host, Airing Your Dirty Laundry), AUS

Hallie Anderson (Co-Founder, Rareform), USA

Jashima Wadehra (Founder, Ode), USA

John Watson (President, John Watson Management / Eleven Music), AUS

Jono Harrison (Music Industry Consultant), AUS

Justin Sweeting (Co-Founder & Music Director, Clockenflap Festival), Hong Kong

Kartini Ludwig (Founder, Koup Music), AUS

Lucy Atkinson (Senior Agent, ATC), UK

Macarena González (Live Talent Coordinator, Apodaca Group / Pal Norte Festival), Mexico

Mardi Caught (Head, The Annex), AUS

Meng Ru Kuok (Group CEO & Founder, Caldecott Music Group), Singapore

Patrick Daniel (Project Manager, Reeperbahn), Germany

Priya Dewan (Founder & CEO, GigLifePro), Singapore

Roochay Shukla (Head of Creative Marketing India and South Asia, Believe), India

Sally Dunstone (Partner and Agent, Primary Talent), UK

+ plenty more to be announced. 

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